Construction Underway in Memu Meadows

As first place winner of Japan’s 4th LIXIL International University Architecture Competition, the UC Berkeley team was invited to construct the submitted proposal in Taiki-cho, Hokkaido. Working under the supervision of Kengo Kuma and Associates, the team modified the initial design into more a specific set of construction drawings. The project broke ground with the modified design on September 15, 2014.

Two members of the team, Hsiu-Wei Chang and Hsin-Yu Chen, stayed in Japan to oversee the construction process and design custom furniture for the building.

The project is being built in relation to the previous three winners: Waseda University, Keio University, and Harvard University.

The community is built as a model village, demonstrating the fusion of architecture and ecology in Hokkaido's snowy climate. The goal is to create a space that draws visitors by appealing to all five senses, offering nature walks, scenery for gazing, dining, while using advanced technology to create an energy-saving and environment-conscious structure.